Arty Girl: The Abraham Lincoln Portrait Show at The Trunk Space

Lincoln’s face – which I personally can’t decide is attractive or not – is one we’ve seen a million times over. In fact, I don’t think the image even registers for me anymore. At most, if I see the guy on a billboard or walking across the top of a web page for some crappy ad, I might think, “Lincoln. President. Freed slaves. Crazy wife.” But even that quick and dirty definition of the man is more than my brain usually takes time to spell out.

Still, the Trunk Space invites us to take yet another look at Lincoln. Over 25 artists from Arizona and across the U.S. attempt to dissect our beloved 16th president with paintings, drawings, sculpture, audio and other media. The images range from a line drawing of a punk rock Lincoln to a comic style cartoon of a homoerotic superhero Lincoln to a Lincoln facemask. Artists include Suzanne Falk, Chad Knapp, Ryan Avery, Camilla Taylor and more.

Sometimes it’s not until you slow down and revisit an all too familiar subject that you find a new appreciation for it.

If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.

We use cookies to collect and analyze information on site performance and usage, and to enhance and customize content and advertisements. By clicking 'X' or continuing to use the site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. To find out more, visit our cookies policy and our privacy policy.